Air cleaner convertible for secondary air induction

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to a motor vehicle air cleaner assembly that is field or end user convertible to another variety of air cleaner having secondary air induction. The air cleaner is pre-configured to enable a field modification to provide for secondary air induction for admitting heated secondary air to the air cleaner and air filter to aid in melting snow or ice blockage of the air filter and permitting the vehicle to operate in snow and ice air filter blockage conditions.

1. An air cleaner for a motor vehicle, comprising:
 a housing having an air inlet opening and an air outlet and at least one peripheral wall defining a chamber therein; 
 an air filter element received into said chamber and separating said air inlet opening from said air outlet opening, 
 wherein said air inlet opening communicates with a primary air portion of a dirty air face of said filter; 
 wherein said air outlet opening communicates with a clean air face of said air filter; and 
 wherein said at least one peripheral wall includes a secondary air inlet closed off by a removable closure member, 
 said secondary air inlet in communication with a secondary air portion of said dirty air face, 
 said closure member removable to convert said air cleaner to an air cleaner fitted for secondary air induction, 
 a baffle extending between said at least one peripheral wall and said dirty air face of said air filter and substantially mating against said dirty air face of said air filter element, 
 said baffle dividing said dirty air face into said primary air portion and said secondary air portion, 
 wherein said airflow entering said air inlet opening is prevented from reaching said secondary air portion of said air filter element dirty air face by said baffle, thereby preventing contamination of said secondary air inlet portion, 
 wherein said baffle prevents air flow between said primary and said secondary air portions at said dirty air face. 
 
     
     
       2. The air cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein said removable closure member is provided in said at least one peripheral wall. 
     
     
       3. The air cleaner according to  claim 2 , wherein
 said closure member is a knock-out member integrally formed into said peripheral wall, 
 said knock-out member peripherally surrounded by a weakened region in said peripheral wall that is configured and adapted to preferentially rupture by the application of force onto said knock-out member, thereby releasing said knock-out member and unblocking said secondary air inlet. 
 
     
     
       4. The air cleaner according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said closure member is a removable captured elastic plug, 
 said plug sized to be received into said secondary air inlet, 
 said plug including flexible resilient flanges spaced apart so as to enable said flanges to be sealably and retentively received onto opposing surfaces of said peripheral wall. 
 
     
     
       5. The air cleaner according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a secondary air inlet fitting having a bore in communication with said secondary air inlet, 
 said secondary air inlet fitting including
 a first end configured and adapted for air flow connection to a secondary air supply; and 
 a second end secured onto an exterior surface of said housing peripheral wall. 
 
 
     
     
       6. The air cleaner according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a secondary air inlet fitting having a bore in communication with said secondary air inlet, 
 said secondary air inlet fitting including
 a first end configured and adapted for air flow connection to a secondary air supply; and 
 a second end secured onto an exterior surface of said housing peripheral wall; 
 
 wherein said closure member is a removable cap provided on said second end of said secondary air inlet fitting. 
 
     
     
       7. The air cleaner according to  claim 6 , wherein
 said cap is threadably secured to said second end of secondary air inlet fitting.